Inauguration of FSU's 13th President Planned for April 17

Friday, April 16, 2010

With the theme "Fairmont Forward," the Inauguration of Fairmont State University's 13th president, Dr. Thomas L. Krepel, will take place Saturday, April 17.

The Inauguration of President Krepel will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 17, in the Falcon Center on the FSU main campus in Fairmont. Events beginning Sunday, April 11, have been planned in celebration of the Inauguration to highlight the achievements of students and faculty and to engage the community and guests. The Inauguration is open to the public. For a complete list of Inauguration week events, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/inauguration.

The Inauguration Reception will immediately follow the ceremony in the third floor conference rooms and terrace of the Falcon Center. Before and after the Inauguration ceremony, the public may view Fairmont Forward on Display, exhibits that showcase student and faculty achievements, in the second floor Main Street area of the Falcon Center.

Krepel officially became Fairmont State University's 13th president on June 30, 2009. He came to FSU from Northern Illinois University, where he served as Assistant to the President from 2005-2009. He was President of Chadron State College in Chadron, Neb., from 1998 to 2005. He also served at Chadron as Interim President in 1998, as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs from 1997 to 1998 and as Professor of Education from 1997 to 2005.

Krepel's professional background includes posts at the Office of University Outreach at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas; the Center for Educational Administration and Leadership at St. Cloud University in St. Cloud, Minn.; the Chancellor's Office and the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations at the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, La.

He taught for Omaha Public Schools in Omaha, Nebraska and Bellevue Public Schools in Bellevue, Neb. He worked for the Legislative Council of the State of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., as well as for Hometown Pack Co. in Crete, Neb.

Krepel earned a Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Administration, Curriculum and Instruction in 1983; a Master of Science in Education in 1979; and a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1972, all from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in Lincoln, Neb. He holds a Nebraska Professional Administrative and Supervisory Certificate and Certification in Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation.

President Krepel and his wife, Carol, reside in the Shaw House on the FSU main campus. They have two sons: Philip, who resides in Illinois, and Patrick, who lives in Virginia.